Manliness
– Jeremiah 5:1 “Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see
now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if
there be any that executeth judgement, that seeketh the truth, and I will
pardon it.”

Manhood
(manliness) is at the very heart of creation.

Manhood
is tied to the image of God. God wants to re-father us and make us into
authentic manhood.

There
is a lack of it – Ezekiel 22:30, “I looked for a man among them who would build
up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not
have to destroy it, but I found none.”

Where
have all the godly men gone? Where are the Christian men in our churches?

Why
have so many Christian men abdicated their God given position?

Act
like a man – I Corinthians 16:13, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith;
be men of courage; be strong.”

Be
a man for others – II Samuel 10:12, “Be strong and let us fight bravely for our
people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”

We
should be men who will counsel, comfort and pray for others. If we are to be
this kind of men we must have first gone through this training ourselves.

II. Our examples.

I. Job, Chapter 29

He was a man of purity – vv.2-6

He
left a godly heritage and example.

He
was committed to his children – v. 5

Values
are caught more than taught.

He
earned the respect of others – vv.7-11

He
earned respect by right conduct, right language and right attitude, especially
toward the government, other people and the opposite sex (31:1). (A COVENANT W/
HIS EYES)

He
was a man of mercy – vv.12,13

He
was a man who cared about others and he made caring count.

He
was a man of justice – vv.14-17

He
was a man who did what was right, even if it cost him to do so

.

He
was a man of stability – vv.18-20

He
had taken root in the things of the Lord and in the community

He
was a man of wisdom – vv.21-25

His
wisdom was from the Lord. College doesn’t produce wisdom. You can be a well

educated
fool.

WISDOM
– The ability to take God’s Word and apply it to life. James 1:5, “If any of
you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without
finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

He
was a man of prayer, fasting, simple tastes and in the directness of his
message and presentation of Christ. – John 1:29-31 (INTRODUCED JESUS)

He
called people to repentance, confession and commitment.

He
was a man of conviction, steadfastness in seven areas:

Reality
– He demanded people show evidence of heart-felt repentance through water
baptism. – Luke 3:16-18

Hypocrisy
– He challenged the Sadducees and the Pharisees. – Matthew 3:7-10

Integrity
– He spoke with, and demanded, truthfulness. – Luke 7:24-28

Purity
– He was a man of high moral standards. – Matthew 14:1-12

Courage
– He spoke out against sin to all people at the risk of his own life.

Matthew
14:1-12

Vision
– He was a prophet.

Vulnerability
– Some think he doubted that Christ was the Messiah. But he was willing to risk
being misunderstood by asking the right questions.Mathew 11:1-3

John
shows vulnerability in his honesty and humility. – John 3:30 (HE MUST INCREASE)

And
yet, Jesus said: “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater
than

John;
yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” – Luke 7:28

III. Jesus Christ

Crying and compassion – “Jesus wept.” John 11:35

Big
boys do cry. It’s ok to cry. We should do it more often.

2.Tough as nails. He drove people
from the synagogue. – “So he made a whip out of

cords,
and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the
coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” John 2:15

Jesus
may have been a short, dark skinned, ugly Jew, but he was no coward or
weakling. He was a man’s man.

3.He was power under control!

4.Strength clothed in tenderness.

There
are four things many men are afraid of: Fear, Failure, Friendships and
Feelings.

Five admissions men
have difficulty with:

I don’t know

I
was wrong

I
need help

I’m
afraid

I’m
sorry

III.BECOMING A GODLY MAN.

The
difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little something
extra.“What ever your hands find to do,
do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is
neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” Ecclesiastes 9:10

Steps
to becoming a godly man.

1. We cannot deny it.

“Since everything will be destroyed in this
way, what kind of people ought you to be?

You
ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and
speed

It’s
coming.”II Peter 3:11,12a

Denying
the reality of an oncoming bus doesn’t make it stop. Denying the reality of

death
doesn’t stop people from dying.

2. We cannot delay it.
“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and
said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered but
later he changed his mind and went.” Matthew 21:28,29

How
much work went undone while the son delayed? How many souls go unsaved while we
delay? “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from
obeying the truth?” Galatians 5:7

Hindrances
– Indifference, indecision, worry. “Casting all your care up on him, for he careth
for you.” I Peter 5:7

No
man is an island – no man stands alone. A piece of charcoal will die if it
tries to burn alone.

“Let
us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us
encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”Hebrews 10:25

4.We cannot be distracted from it. “Whether
you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you,
saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’” Isaiah 30:21

Stay
focused. When you make mistakes, confess them and go on.

5.We cannot rush it. Little by little. One
step at a time.“But
I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become
desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you.” Exodus 23:29-30

Time
is involved. “Joshua waged war against all these king for a long time.” Joshua
11:18

Take
it one day at a time. When God works to make an Acacia (oak) tree He takes
around 100 years. When He wants to make a squash He only takes a few weeks.

Which
would you rather be, a mighty Acacia tree or just a squash?

(FROM THE “TEN OBSERVATION ABOUT MEN” WHAT DO
YOU FEEL IS YOUR

GREATEST
NEED?)PG. 6

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

A PERSONAL INVENTORY

Proverbs
28:13, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and
renounces them finds mercy.”

Take
time to work through this on your own and then share with one other man a
prayer request. Pray for each other.

Repentance
is one of the first steps toward personal and corporate revival. In facing our
sins, we make room for deeper fellowship with Christ. It is impossible for a
man to meet the Lord of Glory in the full revelation of His majesty and not be
grieved by his particular sins and want to confess them.

Confession – To agree with God it is called sin and not gloss over it and blame
someone else. To confess is to bring each individual sin before God,
acknowledge it is wrong, and thank God He has forgiven it.

Repentance
– A change of thinking, action, direction. It is a forsaking of sin. It
involves turning from our sinful action.

Read
through the passages below and ask God to shine the light of His Holiness into
the dark and secret chambers of you heart.

Confess
your sin to God as He convicts you of it.

Ask
His forgiveness – I John 1:9

Repent
of it – fruit of repentance is seen in a changed life-style.

Idolatry
– Matthew 6:33.All things I have
loved, sought, or placed ahead of God. What has captured my heart?

Materialism – I John 2:15.Am I
trusting in things and seeking to accumulate more and more things to have a
sense of fulfillment?

Ritualism – Matthew 15:8,9.Am I just
going through the motions of Christianity without any authenticity to my relationship
with Jesus?

Independence – Jeremiah 17:5.Am I
trusting in my own strength, abilities, wisdom and resources to live my life or
am I living a life of dependence on God for all that I am and all that I do?

Dishonesty – Ephesians 4:25.Do I not
speak the whole truth? Do I use lies and deception to get ahead?

Sexual Immorality – Ephesians 5:3.This
will show itself in lustful thoughts, involvement with pornography,
inappropriate flirting and emotional and physical relationships with women
other than your wife.

Lovelessness
– James 2:18.A lack of compassion for
the lost. A lack of helping those in need right in your own community.

Prayerlessness
– I Samuel 12:23.Finding yourself
settling for quick, on-the-run type of prayers. Being busy for God, but not in
touch with God.

Criticalness
– Ephesians 4:29.Any talk of discord,
dissension, divisiveness. Are you critical of others, causing harm to others
through what you say or how you say it?

Greed
– Proverbs 21:26.A desiring of more
and more, never content with what God has given you. Unwillingness to share
God’s resources with others.

Spiritual
Apathy – Isaiah 29:13.A heart that is
indifferent towards the things of God. You are settling for mediocrity in your
walk with Him. Just enough to get by and look good.

Disobedience
to the Great Commission – Matthew 28:19,20.You find yourself tolerating widespread injustice and neglecting the
four billion people who do not know Jesus and who will spend a Christless
eternity.

Read
and pray through Psalm 51.

Read
any of the following verses and allow God to forgive you of your sin.

I
John 1:9
Hebrews 9:14
Romans 8:1-4

Psalm
103:11,12
Micah 7:18,19
Isaiah 1:18

Acts
3:19

Remember,
God is waiting for us when we repent and return to Him.

“Ever
since the time of your forefathers you have turned away

from
my decrees and have not kept them.

Return
to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.

Malachi
3:7

Produced
by the Men’s Ministry of Elmbrook Church. Used by permission from Steve
Sonderman, Top Gun Men’s Ministry.

TEN OBSERVATIONS ABOUT MEN

MEN NEED ACTION.Men measure themselves
by what they do.

MEN NEED SAFETY.Men by nature are
independent.

MEN
NEED TO BE CHALLENGED.Men tend to view everything
around them as something to be overcome and conquered.

MEN
NEED TO GET TO THE “BOTTOM LINE.”They
want to move from theory to practical applications. They want to get right to
the point.

MEN
NEED TO “WIN.”One of men’s greatest
fears is that of failure.

MEN
ARE GENERALLY EMOTIONALLY ISOLATED.Men
are afraid of four things; Fear, Failure, Friends, Feelings.

MEN
TODAY NEED HEALING.Many men have
unhealed wounds. Some from fathers, mothers, wives, work. They need support
groups where they feel free to share these wounds with others.

MEN
NEED FREEDOM.Mendo not like to be boxed in. They need freedom
to try new things and take risks.

MEN
DEFINE THEMSELVES BY WHAT THEY DO, WHO THEY KNOW, OR WHAT THEY OWN.When a man walks into a room he usually shares
his name and the next question is: “What do you do?” Men are living for the
applause of others.

THE
KEY ISSUE FOR MEN IS WORK.Men spend
50-60 a week at work. They must be taught how to live out their faith in the
marketplace today.

Used
by permission from Steve Sonderman, Top Gun Men’s Ministry.

THE WORLD NEEDS MEN

….who
cannot be bought;
….whose word is their bond;
…. who put character above wealth;
….who posses opinions and a will;
….who are larger than their vocations;
….who do not hesitate to take chances;
….who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
….who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
….who will make no compromise with wrong;
….who are true to their friends in adversity as well;
….who will not say they do it “because everybody else does it;” as in
prosperity;
….who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the qualities
for winning success;
….whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
….who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular,
who can

say “no” with emphasis, although all the
rest of the world says “yes”;

FAILURE

Failure
does not mean you are a failure – It does mean you have not succeeded yet.

Failure
does not mean you have accomplished nothing – It means you have learned
something.

Failure
does not mean you have been a fool – It means you have a lot of faith.

Failure
does not mean you have been disgraced – It means you are willing to try.

Failure
does not mean you don’t have what it takes – It means you have to do something
in a different way.

Failure
does not mean you are inferior – It simply means you are not perfect.

Failure
does not mean you have wasted your life – It means you have reasons to start
afresh.

Failure
does not mean you should give up – It means you must try prayerfully harder.

Failure
does not mean you will never make it – It means it will take a little patiently
longer.

Failure
does not certainly mean God has abandoned you – It simply means God has a
better idea for you!

By an American
preacher

Success
is never certain and failure is never final.

As
long as you have the grace of God, failure is not final.

Besides
– there is virtue in every futile effort towards the good – especially when
those efforts are invested in the Cause that counts.

Dr. Greg Tingson

“Nothing
is greater than man’s success, other than what God can do with failure”. (Trent
Crowley, Memphis, TN, USA)

“And
the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”Matthew 22:39

But
don’t be conceited.Romans 12:3 says,
“…do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.”

If
God can love you, you can love yourself! If God can forgive you, you can
forgive yourself!(HAVE YOU?)(FORGIVING IS LOVES REVOLUTION AGAINST LOVE’S
UNFAIRNESS.WE FREE OURSELVES!)
(FORGIVENESS IS THE FRAGRANCE OF THE ROSE THAT CLINGS TO THE HEEL THAT CRUSHED
IT!)

Do you love others?How you love others tells others how you
love yourself.If God

can
love and forgive others, you can also. “And the second is like it: ‘Love your
neighbor

as
yourself.’”Matthew 22:39(ANY ONE YOU NEED TO FORGIVE?)

Do you love God?With all of your being?“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your strength.”Deuteronomy 6:5

Keep
on loving Him. You can not out love God.“Keep yourselves in God’s love…..”

Jude
21.(HOW?THE WORD – PRAYER – WORSHIP – WITNESS –
OBEDIENCE)

YOUR SPIRITUALITY

Are you sure of your salvation?Where is your heart?“For where your treasure is there will you
heart be also.” Matthew 6:21

Are you born again? (From above – of the
Holy Spirit?). Jesus said we must be born again. John 3:3,5,7

Do you have a vital,
up-to-date relationship with Jesus Christ?“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test
yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course,
you fail the test?”II Corinthians 13:5

(ARE YOU LIVING ON YESTERDAYS BLESSINGS?)(YOU CAN BE AS STRAIGHT AS A GUN BARREL
DOCTRINALLY, BUT AS EMPTY AS A GUN BARREL SPIRITUALLY!)

How is your prayer
life? Are you and God on speaking terms? “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to
show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 (DID YOU
PRAY THIS MORNING?)

Are
you uninhibited in your prayer life?“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians
4:4

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you,
ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be

done
unto you.”John 15:7

YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

LISTEN, LEARN AND OBEY.“….’Hear, O
Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be
sure to follow them.’” Deuteronomy 5:1

Don’t
just be a hearer of the Word, but a doer also.James 1:22.

Study
the Word.“I have hidden your word in my
heart that I might not sin against you.”

Psalm
119:11.

Search
the scriptures. Mine them. Dig out the truths of God.John 5:39

Mature.
Grow up. Do not remain babies. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”II Peter 3:18

Make
time alone with God. Jesus did. “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into
the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the
crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to
pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a
considerable distance from the land, buffered by the waves because the wind was
against it.” Matthew 14:22-24

There
was work to do. There were people in trouble. BUT – Jesus needed time alone
with the Father. And if He needed it – how much more do we!(DAILY DEVOTIONS)

Are
you so busy in your work (the work of the Lord) that you do not have time for
the

Lord
of the work?

Have
a spiritual check-up. Check your diet.“A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks
of the cup.”I Corinthians 11:28(There may be times when you should not take
communion!)

Have
a spiritual x-ray. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith;
test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of
course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not
failed the test.”

II
Corinthians 13:5,6.

Prove
yourself.“If anyone thinks he is
something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own
actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to
somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.”Galatians 6:3-5.

LEARN
AND TURN. “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the
Lord.” Lamentations 3:40

Being
God’s man involves not only what we do – but also what we do not do.

Being a godly man
is:

A
RACE, I Corinthians 9:24-27. Spiritual excellence is not just a destination –
it is a journey.

AN EXERCISE, I Timothy 4:7-10

A FIGHT, I Timothy 6:12.The Bible tells
us to fight the good fight of faith. Some times it is necessary to fight!(CHRISTIAN ARMOUR)

YOUR SEXUAL PURITY.

The Bible speaks quite liberally about the issue of sex.“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified:that you should avoid sexual immorality, that
each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and
honorable.”I Thessalonians 4:3,4

Sexual purity
involves the:

MIND – “You have heard it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you
that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with
her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27,28(WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE MOST?)

BODY
– “Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with

her
in body? For it is said, ‘The two will become one flesh.’ But he who unites
himself

with
the Lord is one with him is spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins
a

sins
a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his
own

body.”
I Corinthians 6:16-18

SPIRIT-
“…They consult a wooden idol and are answered by a stick of wood. A spirit

of
prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God.”Hosea 4:12.

(GROUP:SHARE ONE AREA IN YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU NEED
HELPOR IMPROVEMENT)

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

A PERSONAL INVENTORY

Proverbs
28:13, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and
renounces them finds mercy.”

Take
time to work through this on your own and then share with one other man a
prayer request. Pray for each other.

Repentance
is one of the first steps toward personal and corporate revival. In facing our
sins, we make room for deeper fellowship with Christ. It is impossible for a
man to meet the Lord of Glory in the full revelation of His majesty and not be
grieved by his particular sins and want to confess them.

Confession – To agree with God it is called sin and not gloss over it and blame
someone else. To confess is to bring each individual sin before God,
acknowledge it is wrong, and thank God He has forgiven it.

Repentance
– A change of thinking, action, direction. It is a forsaking of sin. It
involves turning from our sinful action.

Read
through the passages below and ask God to shine the light of His Holiness into
the dark and secret chambers of you heart.

Confess
your sin to God as He convicts you of it.

Ask
His forgiveness – I John 1:9

Repent
of it – fruit of repentance is seen in a changed life-style.

Idolatry
– Matthew 6:33.All things I have
loved, sought, or placed ahead of God. What has captured my heart?

Materialism – I John 2:15.Am I
trusting in things and seeking to accumulate more and more things to have a
sense of fulfillment?

Ritualism – Matthew 15:8,9.Am I just
going through the motions of Christianity without any authenticity to my relationship
with Jesus?

Independence – Jeremiah 17:5.Am I
trusting in my own strength, abilities, wisdom and resources to live my life or
am I living a life of dependence on God for all that I am and all that I do?

Dishonesty – Ephesians 4:25.Do I not
speak the whole truth? Do I use lies and deception to get ahead?

Sexual Immorality – Ephesians 5:3.This
will show itself in lustful thoughts, involvement with pornography,
inappropriate flirting and emotional and physical relationships with women
other than your wife.

Lovelessness
– James 2:18.A lack of compassion for
the lost. A lack of helping those in need right in your own community.

Prayerlessness
– I Samuel 12:23.Finding yourself
settling for quick, on-the-run type of prayers. Being busy for God, but not in
touch with God.

Criticalness
– Ephesians 4:29.Any talk of discord,
dissension, divisiveness. Are you critical of others, causing harm to others
through what you say or how you say it?

Greed
– Proverbs 21:26.A desiring of more
and more, never content with what God has given you. Unwillingness to share
God’s resources with others.

Spiritual
Apathy – Isaiah 29:13.A heart that is
indifferent towards the things of God. You are settling for mediocrity in your
walk with Him. Just enough to get by and look good.

Disobedience
to the Great Commission – Matthew 28:19,20.You find yourself tolerating widespread injustice and neglecting the
four billion people who do not know Jesus and who will spend a Christless
eternity.

Read
and pray through Psalm 51.

Read
any of the following verses and allow God to forgive you of your sin.

I
John 1:9
Hebrews 9:14
Romans 8:1-4

Psalm
103:11,12
Micah 7:18,19
Isaiah 1:18

Acts
3:19

Remember,
God is waiting for us when we repent and return to Him.

“Ever
since the time of your forefathers you have turned away

from
my decrees and have not kept them.

Return
to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord Almighty.”

Malachi
3:7

Produced
by the Men’s Ministry of Elmbrook Church. Used by permission from Steve
Sonderman, Top Gun Men’s Ministry.

Used
by permission from Steve Sonderman, Top Gun Men’s Ministry.

PROBLEMS

PREDICTORS – They help us mold our future.

REMINDERS
– We are not self-sufficient. We need God and others to help.

OPPORTUNITIES
– They pull us out of our ruts and cause us to think creatively.

BLESSINGS
– They open doors we usually don’t go through.

LESSONS
– Each new challenge will be a teacher.

EVERYWHERE
– No place or person is excluded from them.

MESSAGE
– They warn us about potential disaster.

SOLVABLE
– No problem is without a solution.

“If
we work upon marble, it will perish: If we work upon brass, time will efface
it: If we rear temples, they will crumble into dust: But if we work upon mortal
souls: If we imbue them with principles, with the just fear of God and love of
fellow man, we engrave on those tablets something which will brighten all
eternity.”(Daniel Webster)

Much
has been wrought by a few good men well disposed. (???)

BAKING
A CAKE

A
little boy is telling his Grandma how everything is going wrong. School, family
problems, severe health problems, etc. Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She
asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which, of course, he does. “Here,
have some cooking oil.” “Yuck” says the boy. “How about a couple of eggs?”
“Gross, Grandma!”

“Would
you like some flour them? Or maybe baking soda?” “Grandma, those are all
yucky!” To which Grandma replies, “Yes, all those things seem bad all by
themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a
wonderfully delicious cake! !God works the same way. Many times we wonder why
He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows than
when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just
have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!” God
cares about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He’ll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe,
and He chose your heart. Have a wonderful day, lifeA friend.

Integrity – Whole, Sound, Unimpaired, Truthfulness.Credibility!It has to do with a man’s morals and ethics.Proverbs 12:19,22, “Truthful lips endure
forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights
in men who are truthful.”

It
is what you are when you are alone.What
you are when no one is looking. King David as an example. “And David shepherded
them (Israel) with integrity of heart, with skillful hands he led them.” Psalm
78:72

IN YOUR WORSHIP

Why worship?It is God’s command! Man
was made to worship God. “Jesus said to him, (Satan), ‘away from me, Satan! For
it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Matthew 4:10

We
are told to exalt and worship Him. Psalm 99:5,9.

Who
do you worship? Is God still searching for you?“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will
worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are

the
kind of worshippers the Father seeks.” John 4:23

How
do you worship? Not the style of worship but the attitude of you spirit. “God
is Spirit and his worshippers must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24

Do
you worship in a spirit of love, joy, thanksgiving, humility, holiness, awe and
respect? Do we still fear God?

Do
you rejoice in your worship? “For it is we who are the circumcision, we who
worship

by
the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the
flesh.”

Philippians
3:3

When
do you worship? On the first day of the week? Why worship on Sunday, the first

day
of the week? When we worship on Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus

Christ
from the tomb! “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week,
Mary

Magdalene
and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.” Matthew 28:1

Paul
preached on the first day of the week. “On the first day of the week we came together
to break bread. Paul spoke to the people, and because he intended to leave the
next day, kept on talking until midnight.” Acts 20:7

But
we should worship every day, every where and any time.

Where
do you worship?In the house of
God?“I rejoiced with those who said to
me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” Psalm 122:1

Are
you neglecting worship? Hebrews 10:25 tells us not to give up meeting together
for worship.

7.Is your temple clean? “Don’t you know that
you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” I
Corinthians 3:16

IN YOUR WALK (LIFE
& BUSINESS)

In
your private life is your light shinning? How brightly? “In the same way, let
your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your
Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Don’t
hide your God-given talent. Don’t waste it. Use it to the best of your ability
for the glory of the Lord.

In
your business life is your light shinning? Are you an honest businessman?
“Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of
the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” Acts 6:3

Notice
– The first requirement was honesty. The business was the Lord’s business.

Are
you honest in weights and measures? “Do not have two differing weights in your
bag – one heavy, one light. Do not have two differing measures in your house –
one large, one small. You must have accurate and honest weights and measures,
so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. For the
Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals
dishonestly.” Deuteronomy 25:13-16.

Do
you keep two sets of record books – one for the government and one for ‘your
eyes only.’

“Like
a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by
unjust means. When his life is half gone, they will desert him, and in the end
he will prove to be a fool.” Jeremiah 17:11

Truth,
honest and justice. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if
anything is excellent or praise- worthy – think about such things.” Philippians
4:8.

Here
is something to think (pray) about. Do you pay your debts?“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the
continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has
fulfilled the law.”Romans 13:8

“The
wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the
Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.” Psalm
37:21- 22

(GROUP
– WHAT RELALTIONSHIP IS THERE BETWEEN A MAN’S SPIRITUALITY AND HIS INTEGRITY?)

IN YOUR WORK

There are three main attitudes about work: - Too casual – Too involved – Too meaningless.

A
Biblical work ethic:

God
worked – Genesis 2:2 – “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had
been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”

Jesus
worked – John 17:4 – “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work
you gave me to do.”

Man
is to work – Genesis 2:15 – “The Lord God took the man and put him in the
Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

Work
is both creative and productive. Proverbs 6:6-11, “Go to the ant, you sluggard,
consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet
it stores its provisions in the summer and gathers its food at harvest. How
long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A
little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and
poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed men.”(MAN AND WHEELBARROW)

Man
is to work properly and rest adequately.

Six scriptural
principles about work.

Our ability to work is part of what makes us human. Genesis 1:26 – God made man
to

rule
over His creation.

2.
Work is a means of service. – Matthew 20:28 – Christ came to serve not to be
served. We should have a servant attitude. – Galatians 5:13 – We are to serve
one another in love.

3.
The way we work show others what we believe. Matthew 5:16 – Let others see your
good works. We should have a keen sense of purpose about our work.

4.
God has called us to be co-workers with Him. – Luke 10:2 – We are the workers,
the

field
and harvest are His. We are God’s fellow workers. – I Corinthians 3:9.Pursue the work God has gifted you for.

Everything
I need to know about life, I learned from Noah’s Ark. ONE: Don’t miss the boat.
TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat. THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn’t
raining when Noah built the Ark. FOUR: Stay fit. when you are 600 years old
someone may ask you to something really big. FIVE: don’t listen to critics;
just get on with the job that needs to be done. SIX: Build your future on high
ground. SEVEN: For safety’s sake, travel in pairs. EIGHT: Speed isn’t always an
advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs. NINE: When you are
stressed, float a while. TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the
Titanic by professionals. ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God,
there’s always a rainbow waiting.(?????)

“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord
watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” Psalm 127:1,2

If
our love for Christ is real it will usually prove itself at home among those
who know us best. (or at our worst).

YOUR HEADSHIP

God placed man as the head of the home. “Now I want you to realize that the
head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of
Christ is God.”

I
Corinthians 11:3(MAN –
HEAD;WIFE – NECK)

“For the husband is the head of the wife as
Christ is the head of the church, his body, of

which
he is the Savior.” Ephesians 5:23(GOD ORDAINED)

Being
the head means taking hold of authority.Men are to be the head.

BUT
– there is also to be mutual submission (?). Ephesians 5:21.To submit means to

obey,
put under. It is a choice.

Men
– your wife is not to be a doormat!

A
PRAYER FOR THE HEAD OF THE HOME.Psalm
101:2-7 (The Living Bible)

“I will try to walk a blameless path, but how
I need your help, especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should.
Help me to refuse the low and vulgar things; help me to abhor all crooked deals
of every kind, to have no part in them. I will not tolerate anyone who slanders
his neighbors; I will not permit conceit and pride. I will make the godly of
the land my heroes and invite them to my home. Only those who are truly good
shall be my servants. But I will not allow those who deceive and lie to stay in
my home.”

YOUR LEADERSHIP

Leadership
is cooperating with and complimenting others.

“A leader is a Person, who influences People
to accomplish a Purpose.”

-
Howard Hendricks, Dallas Theological Seminary

“Leadership is a man or woman of vision, who
can communicate that vision in such a way to inspire people to accomplish a
purpose.” – Bill Hybels, Willow Creek Community

Church

“Leadership is the ability to get a person to
do what you want him to do, when you want it done, the way you want it done,
because he wants to do it.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

Sometimes
the best way for a man to manage his home is to realize that his wife is the
best manager, and let her do it.

FIVE STANDARDS OF
LEADERSHIP:

I
Timothy 4:12 – “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but
set an

example
for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Speech – Romans 16:18; Colossians 4:6

Life
– I Peter 2:12

Love
– John 15:12,13; I John 4:19-21

Faith
– Matthew 5:16

Purity
– Psalm 24:3,4

YOUR MARRIAGE

Marriages may be made in heaven, but the maintenance must be done here on
earth.

“However,
each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must
respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:33

Success
in marriage is more than finding the right person – it is also becoming the
right person.

I
Timothy 6:11 tells us to run away from evil and strive for righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

Hebrews
13:4,5 give us some of God’s guidelines concerning two of the greatest
weaknesses of most men – sex and money.

After
Adam had named all the creatures of God’s creation, I can imagine that he might
have asked God, Where is mine?

What
do you think Adam said when he first saw Eve?____________!

(QUESTIONARE
– #1 – LAST PAGE)

How
do you answer the following questions?

Do
I love my wife? I mean REALLY love her!Do you show her and tell her you love her? (HOW?)

Why
am I to love her?

It
is God’s command.“Husbands, love your
wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her
holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present
her to himself as a radiant church without stain or wrinkle or any other
blemish, but holy and blameless.”Ephesians 5:25-27

Notice:
He loved her, He gave Himself for her, He cleansed her, He presented her to
Himself.

Husbands,
you have a lot to do with your wife being the woman you want her to be.

Your
prayers depend on it. – “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live
with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs
with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."
I Peter 3:7(HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO PRAY
WHEN YOU ARE ANGRY WITH YOUR WIFE?)

c.How am I to love her? The same way you love
yourself.“In the same way,

husbands
ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife

d.When am I to love her? ALL THE TIME! “Enjoy
life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that
God has given you under the sun. – all your meaningless days. For this is your
lot in life and your toilsome labor under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 9:9Is it hard work to love your wife – or a pleasure?

Do
I respect her? (Honor – Esteem)I Peter
3:7 – Be considerate of her. Be mindful of
her. KJ – according to knowledge = A seeking to know. An inquiry.

Do
I appreciate her?Does she increase in
value to you? Do you love her as much or
more than you did when you married her?(DOES SHE INCREASE IN VALUE?)

Do
I encourage her? “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility
consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3

To
consider means to esteem. Signifies to lead, to be the head.Be open – transparent.

Do
I provide or meet her needs? “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and
especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than
an unbeliever.” I Timothy 5:8

To
provide here means to ‘consider in advance.’

Her financial needs. But it
involves much more.

Her psychological needs. They are
different than yours. (GOD MADE US DIFFERENT)

Her moods – do you know them? Small
talk – After dinner. Doing the dishes. Star gazing. Do you do little
things for her like giving her flowers, a card, a phone call, etc. It’s
the little things that count the most men.

Her spiritual needs. Are you a
priest in your home?A man’s first
obedience is to the Lord, but his first ministry is to his family. Do you
minister to her?Do you pray with
her?Do you lead in devotional time
with her?

Her physical needs. She has them
also, you know. Are you sensitive to her needs?Do you know what turns her on or off romantically?(SEXUALLY)(CHANGING HATS) Have you ever asked her?Have you forgotten?Have the two of you ever shared your
romantic needs, likes and dislikes? (WIVE’S COMPLAINTS - PGS. 7-8) Are you
responsive to her when she expresses her sexual desires?

A few suggestions: Do you bathe, shave,
use after-shave and deodorant, brush your teeth, use a mouthwash before going
to bed?

BY THE WAY – How is
your love life?Consider this.

“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife and likewise the wife
to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her
husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but
also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a
time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so
that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self control.” I
Corinthians 7:3-5

Fulfill
= To give away; Perform (MENOPAUSE – SONG OF SONGS)

Duty
= Kindness; Conjugal duty

Have
you given control of you body to your wife?And only to your wife? (Proverbs 5:15-19. Do you pray together about
it?Did you ever?

Is
the honeymoon over?(When was the last
time the two of you were really alone together?)

Maybe
it is time for another one.

Men,
are you there for her when it counts the most? (Birthday, Anniversary, etc.)

(QUESTIONARE2 – LAST PAGE – OPEN FORUM)

YOUR CHILDREN

The cure for crime is not in the electric chair – but in the high chair. “Teach
children how they should live, and they will remember it all their life.”
Proverbs 22:6 (Good News)

(WALKING IN YOUR STEPS!)

The
education of a child begins 20 years before they are born.

Our
children are like mirrors – they reflect our attitudes and values of life. They
imitate us.

Success
anywhere else can never compensate for failure at home.

Are
you a leader or a driver? Do you demand respect or earn it? What kind of
example are you to your children?(YOU
SHOULD RESPECT ME – I AM YOUR FATHER! POSITION – PERSON?)

Do
you confess your mistakes – apologize – to them?James 5:16.Try it the next time you fail one of them. Children are very forgiving.

“For
what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? (Children) or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
(Children)”. Matthew 16:26

Men
– pastors and laymen – our first ministry is in our home!

Your Daughter

Are you setting an example of what she might look for in a husband?

Do
you let her know she is special? Do you show her what a date should be like?

Do
you answer her questions – or do you send her to her mother?

Boys – Dating – Kissing – Sex – Babies.

You
are the most important man in her young life. Nobody can show her the facets of
a good father nearly as well as you can.

Your Son

Are you an example for him of what a godly man is? Truthfulness – Honesty – Keeping your word

Do you spend time with him? Ballgames –
Shooting – Fishing

Do you talk to him on his level? Honestly
– Frankly

Do you answer his questions? Girls –
Dating – Kissing – Sex – Babies

We
save our boys by giving them a role model to follow. It is our job to save the
boys. It is our god-appointed task to insure that our son(s) will be ready to
lead a family. Sons are the fathers of tomorrow.

Are
you transparent before your children – or – are you a transient parent? Just
passing through.

No
man ever really finds out what he believes until he begins instructing his
children.

Ephesians
6:4 – Raise them to love the Lord.

Psalm
78:72 – Do it with integrity of heart. With credibility.(DAVID – INTEGRITY OF HEART – SKILLFUL HANDS)

The
sins of the fathers. I Timothy 5:24,25, “The sins of some men are obvious,
reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind
them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not
cannot be hidden.”

-
Sinfulness is hereditary

-
Sins are learned

The cumulative or heap effect of sin.

“You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the father’s sins into
the laps of their children after them. O great and powerful God, whose name is
the Lord Almighty.” Jeremiah 32:18.Numbers 14:18 – to the third and fourth generation.

Fathers
are told in Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21 not to enrage their children or
cause them to be angry and rebellious.

Are
we as fathers putting our children in bondage to our sins? Consider this:

“You
shall not bow down to them or worship them (other gods); for I the Lord your
God am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the
third and fourth generation of those who hate men.” Deuteronomy 5:9; Numbers
14:18

Proverbs
103:10-12 – Sins are as far away as East is from West.Isaiah 43:25 – Blot out sins.Malachi 7:19 – Sins cast into the sea.Matthew 6:14 – I will forgive.Romans 6:18 – Free from sin.Philippians 3:13,14 – Forget the past.Hebrews 8:12 – I will be merciful.I John 1:9 – Confess/cleanse.

MENOPAUSE

(CHANGE
OF LIFE)

PRE-MENOPAUSE:
The change before the change.

Experience
irregular menstrual periods and other symptoms that come with the beginning of
the end of their reproductive years.

MENOPAUSE
begins somewhere between the age of 35 – 55, usually 40 – 45.

-Sexuality – Vaginal thinning and dryness
increasing the frequency of vaginal infections which can be uncomfortable and
interfere with intimacy. Vaginal lubricants are available and recommended.

-Fluctuating hormone levels which can affect
her general sense of well being is the cause of the physical symptoms.

-Aside from that – middle age is a
topsy-turvy time when she may be facing and making many changes in her life,
career, family and other relationships.

Men
– We don’t always understand our wives during normal times. We understand them
even less during menopause – because they can hardly understand themselves. It
can be a very stressful time for both partners. You need extreme patience in
dealing with this change. She will need your support then more than any other
time in her life.

But
bear with her – because your relationship later can be better than it ever was.

MALE
MENOPAUSE

Some
call it the “grumpy old man” syndrome. You hit 55 or so, and suddenly you don’t
feel half as spry as you used to. Symptoms come on slowly. You’re fatigued. You
have less muscle strength and endurance. You seem to be putting on weight around
the middle, and your libido has gone south (not like it used to be). It seems
your body is having its own midlife crisis.

You
may also have moments of depression, emotional malaise, panic attacks,
decreased short-term memory, and insomnia; or perhaps your skin is sagging and
you have aches in your joints and muscles. Perhaps you feel inexplicably moody
and irritable, or get angry easily, and thinking about your general state of
health only strengthens these feelings.

What’s
your problem? Doctors are calling it
male menopause, and it’s a diagnosis that is gradually gaining acceptance among
physicians. According to Gary S. Ross, M.D., who practices in San Francisco,
California, usually by the time a man reaches his mid-fifties (although
symptoms may appear in one’s forties), indications of the “andropause complex
of symptoms” (another name for a condition of unbalanced hormones in men) are
noticeable.

All
the symptoms mentioned above are signs that a man’s hormones-their levels and
ratios one to another-are in flux, shifting into a new configuration at
midlife. “Hormone level, especially of testosterone, start off high in puberty
and peak throughout the teenage years,” says Dr. Ross.

(Testosterone
is the primary male sex hormone or androgen ((meaning a hormone with a
masculinizing effect)) formed in the greatest quantities in the testes but also
secreted in a small amount by the adrenal glands and, in women, by the ovaries.
The purpose of testosterone is to produce the masculine physical features of
the male body such as body hair, voice, muscles, and genital and sperm
development. While minute amounts of testosterone are produced in the fetus,
levels of this hormone peak around age 20. Thereafter, there is a steady
decline such that, at the age 80, a man has only 20% to 50% of the amount he
had when he was young.)

Dr.
Ross continues, “Then as you pass the age of 30, the hormones begin a slow
drop, so gradual that most men don’t notice it. But by the time you’re 40,45,
or 50, you do notice it. That’s when many men start experiencing some of the
symptoms clustered under the umbrella term, male menopause.”

“By
the time a man reaches 60 or 65, things have slowly built up in the body the
way they do in an old carburetor. Unless you keep your carburetor clean and
open, you may become subject to heart disease or strokes later in life.”

MASCULINE
LEADERSHIP.1) Serves and sacrifices for
a woman’s good.2) Points the woman to
Christ. 3) Makes the most of the other’s strengths. 4) Takes the general
responsibility to initiate. 5) Expresses itself romantically. 6) Takes the
initiative in disciplining the children. 7) Finds appropriate ways to express
masculinity. 8) Knows that leadership requires repentance and humility.

MARKS OF A COMPETENT
LEADER (Nehemiah, Chapter 1)

1. A leader has a clear recognition of the needs. v.4. – Hear what is being
said in word and action.

2. A leader is personally concerned with the need. “You never lighten the load
unless first you have felt the pressure in your own soul.” (Allan Redpath)

3.
A leader goes first to God with the problem. v. 5 – Pray before you act. He confesses his part in the problem. vv.6,7 –
When there are unresolved personality conflicts claim God’s promises to help
overcome our difficulties.

(From
“Hand Me Another Brick” by Charles R. Swindoll)

A GODLY FATHER

God had something in mind when He made the first father. He assigned him a
specific role in life and all of a father’s activities are measured against
that standard.

A
little boy needs a father. He needs a father to teach him how to be a man…to
take him by the hand and lead him through the maze of life…to teach him to be
strong, to be gentle, to be loving and to be a defender of the right.

A
little girl needs a father too. She needs a father to protect her…to counsel
her on life’s problems…to teach her how to be a woman.

The
home needs a father to serve as provider, protector, spiritual leader and
counselor.

While
the world seldom hears what a father says to his children, the effects of his
counsel will be felt by the next generation…the next… and the next.

To
fathers the Bible says:

“Husbands,
love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church.” (Ephesians 5:25)

“Fathers,
provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition
of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

PROPHET – PRIEST – KING

PROPHET (TO GUIDE):
Listens to the Lord and ministers to his family what God is saying to his
family.

PRIEST (TO GUARD):
As the Priest listened to the congregation and took their request to the Lord,
the Father is to spend time with his familyto know their needs and then to take those needs before the Lord.

KING
(TO GOVERN):
Not to be as an earthly king who lords it over his people, but to be a heavenly
king who is a servant to his family. (From
– Family Foundations International)

HUSBANDS – FATHERS

Judge
Samuel Liebowitz, Criminal Court Judge in New York City – “Put father back at
the head of the family!” This is his simple principle for reducing juvenile
delinquency.

Charles
Stanley, in his book “A Man’s Touch, says, “When a business fails, the head of
the company is held responsible, not the man on the assembly line. As the head
of the home we husbands and fathers are responsible for it’s condition, whether
good, bad, or indifferent. Husband, you were made to rule your home – how is
the project doing? All around us are broken homes, disillusioned divorces, and
lonely children. In many cases, the cause is men who refused to rule their
homes.”

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO
BE A LEADER IN THE HOME?

Gladys
Seashore’s paraphrasing of Proverbs 31;

“Who
can find a faithful husband, for his price is far above that of a Cadillac or
even a Rolls Royce.

“The heart of his wife doth safely trust in him whether he is on a business
trip, or comes home late from the office.

“He
tries to do the best for her and his family.

“He
learns to use the tools of his trade and isn’t afraid of a hard day’s work.

“He
is knowledgeable about world affairs and uses this for his family’s enrichment.

“He
rises early in the morning for his devotions and asks for wisdom for his daily
tasks.

“He
considers investments carefully and buys a home, property, or business with an
eye toward the future.

“He
watches his health and gets the sort of exercise he needs in order to stay
physically fit.

“His
work is of a good quality even if he has to put in extra hours to make it that
way.

“He
doesn’t neglect his home.

“He
is concerned about social issues and tries to help those who are in need.

“He
isn’t afraid of difficult times because he has learned to trust God and has
done what he could to provide for his family.

“He
nourishes himself and his family both physically and spiritually.

“His
wife is well-thought of in their community because he never belittles her.

“He
has a hobby that is relaxing and worthwhile.

“He
is strong and honorable and is a happy person, easy to live with.

“His
conversation is wise and uplifting. In fact, he makes it a rule of his life to
speak kindly.

“He
is interested in all things that concern his family and is not lazy or
indifferent.

“His
children love him and admire, and his wife is proud of him and says, ‘Many men
have succeeded in this world, but you are the best of them all. If I had it to
do over again I would still marry you.’

“Flattery
is deceitful, and good looks are only on the surface, but a man who loves and
fears God shall be truly praised.

“This
sort of man deserves to be treated like a king, for his life proves that what
he believes is real.

With
a Christian man or men – Proverbs 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron, so one man
sharpens another.”

Inside
and outside of your church or circle of friends – I Samuel 18:3 – “Then

Jonathan
and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.”

Agree to meet together on a regular basis.
(Encouragement – Accountability)

2. Become
transparent.

Be
open with each other – Proverbs 27:5 – “Open rebuke is better than secret
(hidden) love.”

Confess your faults to each other –Pray
for each other – James 5:13-16, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let
him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from
wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do
not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from
heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and
selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice."

3. Become accountable.

Hold
each other accountable. (Correct a fellow believer) – Be constructively
critical of each other – Matthew 18:15-17, “If your brother sins against you,
go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you,
you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two
others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two
or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church;
and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan
or a tax collector.”

(see
Proverbs 10:10)

4. Be an encourager.
Hebrews 3:12-15 – “…But encourage one another daily,…”

Proverbs 25:11 – “Timely advice is as lovely as gold apples in a silver
basket.” (LAB)

To
be an encourager means to strengthen, help and fortify others.

To
be a sharer is to be an associate, a partner, to participate with others.

Hebrews
10:24,25 – “…. spur one another…. let us encourage one another – and all the
more as we see the Day approaching.”

To
spur means to stimulate or incite.

To
encourage is to call near, to invite, to comfort, to pray and to exhort.

many
kinds,……Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and

complete,
not lacking anything.”

BUT
WHAT IF I FAIL?CONSIDER Abraham
Lincoln.

Abraham
Lincoln was elected president of the United States in 1860. He grew up on an

isolated
farm and had only one year of formal education. In those early years he was

exposed
to barely half a dozen books. In 1832 he lost his job and was defeated in the
race for the Illinois legislature. In 1833 he failed in business. In 1834 he
was elected to the state legislature, but in 1835 his sweetheart died, and in
1836 he had a nervous

breakdown.
In 1838 he was defeated for Speaker of the House, and in 1843 he was

defeated
for nomination to Congress. In 1846 he was elected to Congress but in 1848 lost
the renomination. In 1849 he was rejected for a federal land office
appointment, and

1854
he was defeated for the Senate. In 1856 he was defeated for the nomination of
vice president, and in 1858 he was again defeated for the Senate. Yet, he is
considered by many to be the greatest president of all time.

FAILURE
BECOMES A FRIEND IF IT TURNS US TO GOD.

“DO WHAT YOU CAN, WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, WHERE
YOU ARE.” -

THEODORE
ROOSEVELT.

REMEMBER:
“Success is never certain and failure is never final.” (The Pursuit of

Excellence,
Ted W. Engstrom)

HOW
TO BE A SURE WINNER (Joshua 1:1-15)

Know
the winning factor – vv. 1-5

God
is always there.

God
never runs out of resources.

God
is committed to His promises.

God
will see us through.

Apply
the winning formula – vv. 6-15

God
has a specific plan for your life. – v. 6

Obedience
to God’s word assures you of success. – vv. 7,8

God
is on your side. – v. 9

(Pastor
Richel Maraat, Bacolod Alliance Church)

A
FUTURE PLAN.

God’s
will is:

Purposeful

Before
the world. – Ephesians 1:4,5

Until
the end. – Ephesians 1:9,10

Centered
in Christ. – Ephesians 1:10

Personal.

Saved
by grace. – Ephesians 2:8

God’s
workmanship. – Ephesians 2:9-10

For
good works. – Ephesians 2:10

Practical.

Find
what pleases Him. – Ephesians 5:10

(STUART
BRISCOE, “MEN OF HONOR AND INFLUENCE.”

A
BIBLICAL MODLE FOR MANHOOD.)

HOW
DO I APPLY THESE TO MY LIFE?

Prayer

The
Word

Obeying

FAILURE

Failure
does not mean you are a failure – It does mean you have not succeeded yet.

Failure
does not mean you have accomplished nothing – It means you have learned
something.

Failure
does not mean you have been a fool – It means you have a lot of faith.

Failure
does not mean you have been disgraced – It means you are willing to try.

Failure
does not mean you don’t have what it takes – It means you have to do something
in a different way.

Failure
does not mean you are inferior – It simply means you are not perfect.

Failure
does not mean you have wasted your life – It means you have reasons to start
afresh.

Failure
does not mean you should give up – It means you must try prayerfully harder.

Failure
does not mean you will never make it – It means it will take a little patiently
longer.

Failure
does not certainly mean God has abandoned you – It simply means God has a
better idea for you!

By
an American preacher

Success
is never certain and failure is never final. As long as you have the grace of God, failure
is not final. Besides – there is virtue
in every futile effort towards the good – especially when those efforts are invested
in the Cause that counts. Dr. Greg Tingson

“Nothing
is greater than man’s success, other than what God can do with failure”. (Trent
Crowley, Memphis, TN, USA)

AFFIRMATIONS
FROM THE WORD

I
will not follow the crowd in doing wrong. (Exodus 23:2

I
will not be dishonest in judgment, in measurement of weight or quantity. I will
be honest and just in my business affairs. (Leviticus 19:35,36)

I
will not show partiality in judgment; I will hear both small and great alike. I
will not be afraid of any man, for judgment belongs to God. (Deuteronomy 1:17)

I
will not pervert justice or show partiality. I will not accept a bribe, for a
bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.
(Deuteronomy 16:19)

I
know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. (I
Chronicles 29:17)

I
will let the fear of the Lord be upon me, and I will be careful in what I do,
for with the Lord, my God, there is no injustice or partiality or bribery. (II
Chronicles 19:7)

I
will walk properly as in the daytime, not in revellings and drunkenness, not in
promiscuity and debauchery, not in strife and jealousy. Rather, I will put on
the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision to gratify the lusts of the flesh.
(Romans 13:13,14)

I
do not want even a hint of immorality, or any impurity, or greed, in my life,
as is proper for a saint. Nor will I give myself to obscenity, foolish talking,
or coarse joking, which are not fitting, but rather to giving of thanks.
(Ephesians 5:3,4)

I
have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You. (Psalm
119:11)

I
have kept my feet from every evil path that I might keep Your word. I gain
understanding from Your precepts, therefore I hate every false way. (Psalm
119:101,104)

Your
word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have inclined my heart to
perform Your statutes to the very end. (Psalm 119:105, 112)

I
will not be quickly provoked in my spirit, for anger rests in the bosom of
fools.

(Ecclesiastes
7:9)

I
will watch and pray so that I will not fall into temptation; the spirit is
willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)

I
will make it my ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind my own business, and to
work with my hands, so that I may walk properly toward those who are outside and
may lack nothing.